Student Asbestos Exposure Risk
Posted on: September 30, 2024School children are at increased risk of asbestos exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights several factors:
- Children breathe in fibers more easily through their mouths.
- They are more active and breathe faster than adults.
- They spend more time on the floor where asbestos fibers settle.
- They are more likely to put things, which might contain asbestos, in their mouths.
This risk is particularly concerning for younger children. The OIG report notes that childhood exposure can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma later in life.